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Schools promise action on radon

high levels of carcinogen found at Old Fort School

By Britt Combs | The McDowell News

Published: October 27, 2009

The presence of radon gas in parts of Old Fort Elementary will be dealt with as soon as possible, according to McDowell County School administrators.

Principal Charles Gaffigan sent a letter to parents last week, promising to deal with the problem.

"The places where the levels are high are on our fourth- fifth- and sixth grade halls," he stated in the letter, adding that these parts of the building date back to the old high school.

"The first step will be to do some preventative maintenance in the classrooms affected," he continued. "Then we will find a way to get some outside air circulating" through the building's HVAC system.

Radon gas is a naturally occurring gas, produced by uranium and radium in the soil. The gas can accumulate indoors, and is considered to be a class A carcinogen, known to cause lung cancer in humans.

Tests conducted at the site in 1989 and 1990 showed high levels of radon, according to records obtained from the state Department of Environment and natural Resources' Radon Program. New radon tests were conducted in September 2009. DENR's results show some areas of the school having a radon presence well above standards set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

Associate Superintendent Mike Murray, whose responsibilities include supervision of buildings and grounds, said the new data has prompted a quick response.

"The maintenance department is now inspecting rooms, removing baseboards and sealing cracks," said Murray. "We will be working with DPI to establish any other measures to address the problem."

Gaffigan said that since he penned the letter that was sent home, he has learned there may be more extensive radon penetration into the school.

"So there are more places to work on," he said. "I am working with Dr. Murray and Mr. (Garvin) Trinks (the school system's maintenance director) on the solution to the situation."

Murray said extensive work might be needed to fully redress the situation.

"We have contacted the state engineer about creating more airflow in the rooms. This may require a redesign plan for the HVAC systems that are currently in place," he stated.

Murray did not know what actions, plans or steps were taken by the school system, if any, after the initial radon tests of 1989 and 1990. As of Tuesday afternoon, he said, he had not found any documentation of any plan or response.

The HVAC modifications should be complete in the next couple of weeks and, he said, the tests would be done again.

"I don't know what the response was before, but I am not ignoring it. If it was ignored before I won't ignore this one more day. We're going to insure the safety of our kids and our staff," said Murray.